Pilgrims Hospices has its roots in education. We support healthcare professionals to encourage best practice with a range of courses and resources. We run a monthly Best Practice Forum and have a community training space for hire, the Ann Robertson Centre.

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Hospice proves a purrfect place for new recruit

Posted on 5 December 2012

MEET the newest recruit to join the staff at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet – she is Claudia the black and white cat.

Ten month old Claudia has settled in well to her new surroundings after being rehomed, said nurse manager Vicky Hitchcock, and has proved an immediate hit with patients, visitors and staff.

“We wanted to create a more homely environment for our patients and having a cat about the place helps us achieve that, “said Vicky.

“She has endeared herself to everyone and is spoilt rotten. She has this amazing knack of standing on her hind legs if we offer her a tasty titbit.”

Claudia has stayed mainly on the hospice ground floor, the nurses’ station and nearby offices being her prime spot, although she has sneaked into the lift down to the lower level to meet day hospice patients.

Putting up Christmas decorations proved irresistible to the curious feline – but luckily there were no cat-astrophes with the ward’s tree!

Patients and visitors are allowed to bring pets to the hospice provided they are supervised and up to date with any injections. Probably the most unusual has been a patient’s pet python, which lodged in a warm bathroom overnight a few years ago.